Continuous and heavy rainfall, cyclones or other weather disturbances can cause floods in both rural and urban localities. Such massive overflow can severely jeopardise the day-to-day livelihood of residents of a flood-ridden locality.

So, it is beneficial to have a comprehensive idea about what the effects of the flood on the house can be – and what you should do if you face such a scenario.

Some of the significant effects of the flood on your home include:

• Structural Damage: The constructional design of your house floor or roof can collapse due to its exposure to excessive water pressure. Additionally, prolonged contact with the water can also lead to erosion of the soil present in the ground. Consequently, dampened walls and ceilings can eventually cave in.
• Electrical Damage: If water enters a household, it can also adversely affect the electrical wirings present inside. To elaborate, salt-enriched flood water can lead to corrosion of the wirings. Moreover, this trapped water gradually causes mould growth around an electrical wire, damaging its insulation significantly. Therefore, if loose or torn electrical wires are found inside a flooded house, it can pose a fatal risk.
• Bacterial Activities: A damp and humid condition is essential for microbial activities. Therefore, mildew growth can begin in the trapped flood water inside a house within one to two days. Prolonged exposure to such fungus can trigger an allergic reaction in an individual, causing headaches or breathing difficulties.
• Lack of Usable Water: Floodwater intermingling with the water supply system of your home can contaminate it severely. Using such adulterated water can become a contributing factor to numerous health hazards.
• Plumbing System Damage: The floodwater’s pressure can also impair the plumbing system of your household. As a result, an internal water overflow can further contribute to clogging issues.
• Loss of Personal Belongings: Without proper protection, flood water can wash away essential household stuff with its flow. Moreover, the conditions of important personal and financial documents can deteriorate.

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Floodwater mainly enters a house through either seepage or breakage. In the first scenario, the overflowing water can enter through the bottom clearance – the small gap in-between a door and the floor of a house.

Moreover, such seepage can also take place if there are any cracks in the walls which are otherwise unnoticeable. Especially if a house has succumbed to the effects of extreme flooding, water can seep through the porous materials your house structure is built with.

On the other hand, a house situated in comparatively lower lands can face a risk of water breakage due to flash flooding. During such an event, water is capable of moving at the speed of 9 feet per second. This excessive pace can move an estimated 100 pounds on the waterway.

Therefore, a flash flood can compromise the structural integrity of a house, with the water entering it via broken doors, windows, or ceilings. During such a deluge, a wall of water is also capable of reaching a height of a maximum of 20 feet. Therefore, impact damages from water flow, in addition to disfigurement caused by floating debris, can rupture the foundation of a house – allowing further water to enter a premise.

Additionally, water can also enter through the flood vents or the sewer system of your house.

Floods can be differentiated into several categories:

• Flash floods
• Coastal floods
• Pluvial flood
• Fluvial flood
• Urban flood
• Groundwater flood
• Overbank flood

To make sure you can minimise the effects of flood on your home, you should follow a certain set of practices:

• Install a flood vent. This way, in an inevitable situation of water entering the household, it will do so without breaking into the components of the building. This way, the structural integrity of a home can be safeguarded in a stopgap manner.
• You must keep the electrical components of your residence at least a foot above the predicted flood water level. Subsequently, if the deluge enters the house, broken wires will not lead to severe safety concerns.
• You should make an emergency plan beforehand. So, consider preparing a first-aid kit and stock up on substantial supplies so that it can sustain you for a few days till the restoration process begins.
• It is ideal for resettling your furniture and other valuable products in a safe place. You can consider waterproofing your basement as a preventive matter in this regard. So, in case of a natural disaster, it can work as a safe space.
• Keep up with the flood alerts issued by your local government bodies. If there is an evacuation suggestion, you must follow it.
• Make sure your house has adequate insurance coverage for flood damage.

Time is of the essence when it comes to a speedy recovery from the effects of a flood on a home. As mentioned before, mould and mildew growth or soil erosion can begin in just a day or two of water stagnation. Such damages can cause long-time problems to the house itself and for the overall health of you and your family members.

Therefore, it is quintessential to start the recovery and restoration process as fast as possible. So, the first responders and rescue members must take swift action to avoid the risk of large-scale demolition.

In conclusion, floods are natural disasters which are common in the tropics and in the Indian subcontinent. Floods cause permanent structural damage to property and homes. They cause a buckled flood, frayed electrical wiring, electrocution, cracks in foundations, damaged rooftops etc. This article discusses at length about the typical effects of the flood on your home, its precautionary measures and restoration practices.